KVR Audio

Autobot · Post by **Autobot** » Fri Jan 27, 2017 11:45 pm

I do not how to coding and do not know if it's hard to implement but why for gods sake do not every plugin-developer use the way Tokyo Dawn Labs implement their 'knob dragging style'? I mean it's ultra fine and precise and it 'feel' good to drag the knobs.

If you do not know how it works with Tokyo Dawn Labs try one of their freeware effects. Anyway why do not every developer do it this way. I don't get it.

Edit: Thanks to Jafo

sqigls · Post by **sqigls** » Sat Jan 28, 2017 4:08 am

Personally I think companies need to be more conscious of their virtual potentiometer resolution for MacBook track pads (ie two finger scroll). Some plugins go from 0-10 in one small movement, it's very annoying. Some plugins, like Softube Modular and Carbon Electra don't even support the gesture, which maybe sounds like "ohmagherd, I broke a nail", but it really is a workflow killer, not to mention a cause of carpel tunnel syndrome... Those constant trackpad deep clicks are require a lot of pressure compared to a light tap. So annoying, and off putting. I'd use Softube Modular all the time if they just implemented this simple gesture. So much easier on the fingers and wrist, and the workflow is so much faster!

incubus · Post by **incubus** » Sat Jan 28, 2017 6:06 am

Several of them are awful. On windows (as I'm sure you know) "shift" can help, but it's not an is-all.

PA have some of the worst. Great plugs, happy I have them, fiddly knobs.

ENV1 · Post by **ENV1** » Sat Jan 28, 2017 2:37 pm

incubus wrote:Several of them are awful. On windows (as I'm sure you know) "shift" can help, but it's not an is-all.

Can be SHIFT, but can also be CTRL or ALT or even a combination of them for even finer controls. (Seen it all.)

As to behavior, what really makes me want to run head first into a brick wall is when knobs respond to vertical AND horizontal mouse movement at the same time. Its like a frickin battle. About as funny as trying to discuss the finer points of philosophy with a sack of hammers. You want a precise value, you drag carefully up, you drag carefully down, almost there. Then, right about the time youre ready to let go of the button, the knob registers a minimal horizontal movement. (Humans arent robots you know.) And BAM, the value is half a mile off again. So you patiently try to neutralize that minute horizontal movement by dragging the knob back slightly on the X axis. Of course you overdrag, so you have to drag slightly back again. Eventually the knob registers that infinitesimal vertical movement you couldnt avoid while trying to get the horizontal axis back in order, and here you are, firmly engaged in a head-to-head battle between you and the Y axis of the knob and the X axis of the knob. Back and forth it goes. You have one right, you screw up the other. Eventually you can take your pulse just by looking at your neck. And suddenly there are these strange scenes appearing in your head where unspeakable things are being done to the developer who committed this crime against ergonomy.

Seriously, it sucks. No developer should be doing it. Make the X axis optional if you really think thats necessary for a knob in linear mode, but for goodness sake, make it one OR the other and not both at the same time.

Chris-S · Post by **Chris-S** » Sat Jan 28, 2017 9:34 pm

Isn't the DAW reporting the desired knob mode (circular or linear) to the VST?

Autobot · Post by **Autobot** » Sat Jan 28, 2017 10:40 pm

Chris-S wrote:Isn't the DAW reporting the desired knob mode (circular or linear) to the VST?

Sorry this is not about circular or linear is about the overall calibration of knob behaviour done by the developer of the plugins.

Jafo · Post by **Jafo** » Sat Jan 28, 2017 10:59 pm

Autobot wrote:If you do not know how it works with Tokyo Dawn Labs try one of their freeware synths.

Aw, man, you got my hopes up there when you wrote "synths" instead of "effects." But I completely agree with you otherwise.

Cinebient · Post by **Cinebient** » Sat Jan 28, 2017 11:14 pm

And many plug-ins have inverted movements with 2 finger scroll (mouse wheel).
Fine adjustments via two finger on my trackpad without deep click is great.
But yeah, some tools are annoying and unprecise like with fat fingers on a touch screen (which i often find annoying as hell for fine adjustments).

Architeuthis · Post by **Architeuthis** » Sat Jan 28, 2017 11:24 pm

Autobot wrote:why for gods sake do not every plugin-developer use the way Tokyo Dawn Labs implement their 'knob dragging style'?

What is special about it? Will keep it in mind for my products... but I'm no stranger to fine-tuning. It's a critical feature. Value entry is also pretty important. Knowing what your synth is doing is also very helpful, so you gotta have displays and readouts for certain things (showing modulation, etc.). My plugins will be uncompromised when it comes to usability. Higher usability = wider range of application = happier customer. A synth needs to do more than make bleeps and bloops, it should be a screw driver just as much as it is a paint brush, a good blend of technical precision and artistic potential, a good blend of tool and toy.

Behaviour and fine adjustment of knobs in plugins